23/12/2010 10:19
Senate ratifies Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty
The Senate on Wednesday ratified an arms control treaty with Russia that reins in the nuclear weapons that could plunge the world into doomsday, giving President Barack Obama a major foreign policy win in Congress' waning hours.
Thirteen Republicans broke with their top two leaders and joined 56 Democrats and two independents in providing the necessary two-thirds vote to approve the treaty.The vote was 71-26.
The accord, which still must be approved by Russia, would restart onsite weapons inspections as successors to President Ronald Reagan have embraced his edict of "trust, but verify." Russian President Dmitry Medvedev welcomed the vote and expressed the hope that the Russian Duma and Federation Council will be ready to study the issue and ratify the Treaty, ITAR-TASS reports.